Commission recommends changes to Alabama sentencing laws

View full size(Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, seen here on March 7, 2008, created the Public Safety and Sentencing Commission last year. (Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — A group of Alabama judges, legislators, lawyers and law enforcement officials is recommending changes in sentencing laws that they say will reduce the number of inmates in Alabama prisons and end up saving millions.

Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb created the Public Safety and Sentencing Commission last year. The commission released its recommendations Wednesday.

Cobb says the most important recommendation is to provide all inmates with supervision for as long as six months when they leave prison. She says inmates who don't have supervision are much more likely to commit another crime.

Nine bills based on the commission's recommendations will be considered by a House committee in late March.